Australian Student Visa Reforms

The Australian government has announced several policy changes related to student visas. In that change, the prospective international students coming to Australia will be able to express their intent to migrate in their visa applications, under new reforms announced by the Federal Government.

Currently, overseas student applicants must meet the requirement of being a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) where the purpose of staying in Australia is limited to the scope of a “quality” tertiary education for the term of a university degree.

To pass the GTE, a 300-word statement must be provided detailing the applicant’s personal circumstances surrounding the decision to overseas education, but they cannot declare any intention to gain a residency in Australia through the program.

Candidates who try to use the student visa pathway merely as a means of working and living Down Under are flatly rejected.

The GST process for Australian student visas is a new reform that is expected to replace the GTE (Genuine Temporary Entrant) criterion in the near future. The GST stands for Genuine Student Test, and it is a comprehensive test that assesses certain eligibility requirements for an Australian student visa. This test is mandatory for all international students applying for a subclass 500 visa and requires students to demonstrate the following:

1) They have a genuine intention to study in Australia temporarily and not use the student visa as a way to migrate permanently.
2) They have a valid offer of admission from an Australian educational institution that matches their chosen course of study, program of study, study location, and other relevant course details.
3) They have sufficient academic background, English proficiency, financial resources, and health insurance to undertake their proposed course of study in Australia.
4) They have a clear understanding of Australia and their reasons for wanting to study there.

The GST will be a two-part test:
1) An interview with a visa officer, who will assess the applicant’s English language proficiency, academic and financial documents, and other submitted documents. The interview may be conducted in person, by phone, or by video call. The visa officer will ask questions about the applicant’s personal circumstances, education history, career goals, study plans, and motivation for studying in Australia. The visa officer will also verify the authenticity and validity of the documents provided by the applicant.

2) A written test, which will assess the applicant’s knowledge of Australia and their reasons for wanting to study there. The written test will consist of multiple-choice questions and short-answer questions covering topics such as Australian culture, history, geography, politics, economy, education system, and student visa conditions. The written test will be administered online or on paper at a designated location.

The GST is designed to ensure that only genuine and well-prepared students have the opportunity to study in Australia, and to reinforce the integrity of the student visa system. The GST aims to enhance the quality and reputation of Australian education by attracting committed and qualified students who can contribute to the development of skills and knowledge that Australia needs in the global market.

The GST is part of the ongoing reforms in the Australian student visa system, which aim to streamline the application process, simplify the visa subclasses, and align the visa conditions with the student’s level of risk. The GST is expected to be implemented in the coming months, replacing the GTE completely.